French December Industrial Output Beats Views

PARIS--French industrial production rose slightly more-than-expected at the end of the year, boosted by equipment and energy output, statistics showed Friday.

Industrial production in the eurozone's second-largest economy increased 0.5% in December from November, national statistics agency Insee said. Economists polled by the Wall Street Journal had forecast a 0.4% expansion.

December's industrial production figures underscore the French economy's solid performance at the end of the year, which carried 2017 gross domestic product to its largest expansion in six years.

Insee also revised up Friday its measure of industrial production in November to a 0.3% contraction from -0.5% previously. For the final three months of 2017, industrial production was up 4.2% on year, Insee said.